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10% Reduction n September Prices

10% Reduction n September Prices

Casa de la Fuente is on the edge of the village of La Vall de Santa Creu, which lies at the head of a wild and beautiful valley, in sight of the famous medieval monastery, San Pere de Rodes, (now floodlit every night). In the spring and early summer the valley is full of wonderful birds and wild flowers and perfect for walking. Mid June-mid Sept there is a restaurant and bar with terrace and beer garden in the village. Our nearest beach is 2 minutes away by car (15 minutes walk) and we are 2 miles from the lively and attractive Port de la Selva, full of excellent restaurants and food shops. The 200 year old, restored village house is spacious and there is plenty of room for 10 people to find a private corner both indoors and outside. Terraces and garden and wonderful views from all rooms. The vaulted dining room/kitchen which takes up the whole of the ground floor is perhaps the highlight with its antique Catalan furniture and refectory table seating 10 which has seen so many memorable family gatherings over the last 40 years, equalled perhaps by a final brandy on the top terrace looking out over the moonlit valley and mountains and the floodlit monastery above.

Overview

Village house overlooking mountains in Natural Park

Casa de la Fuente is on the edge of the village of La Vall de Santa Creu, which lies at the head of a wild and beautiful valley, in sight of the famous medieval monastery, San Pere de Rodes, (now floodlit every night). In the spring and early summer the valley is full of wonderful birds and wild flowers and perfect for walking. Mid June-mid Sept there is a restaurant and bar with terrace and beer garden in the village. Our nearest beach is 2 minutes away by car (15 minutes walk) and we are 2 miles from the lively and attractive Port de la Selva, full of excellent restaurants and food shops. The 200 year old, restored village house is spacious and there is plenty of room for 10 people to find a private corner both indoors and outside. Terraces and garden and wonderful views from all rooms. The vaulted dining room/kitchen which takes up the whole of the ground floor is perhaps the highlight with its antique Catalan furniture and refectory table seating 10 which has seen so many memorable family gatherings over the last 40 years, equalled perhaps by a final brandy on the top terrace looking out over the moonlit valley and mountains and the floodlit monastery above.

About sue mackworth-praed

I am a civil engineer and in 1974 I was posted to Madrid for 5 months along with my wife and 3 children. We loved Spain so much we ended up staying 15 years, a fascinating time as we witnessed Franco's last 18 months and thereafter all the excitement of the transition to a successful democracy.

By chance we stumbled across La Vall de Santa Creu our first year and over the 15 years it was very much home (our Madrid house was rented, tiny and full of slugs and cockroaches - we were terrified of accidentally transporting some to la Vall, where there are NONE!) and we spent every Easter and Summer holiday there. Our children grew up with the children in the village who remain close friends and we still all get together there every summer, now of course with grandchildren too.

sue mackworth-praed purchased this house in 1970

Why sue mackworth-praed chose El Port de la Selva

On our way from Madrid to France for a holiday in 1974 by chance we saw a house for sale in La Vall de Santa Creu, right on our route. Thinking we would only be months in Madrid it seemed the right place - halfway between Madrid and London and driving distance from either. 40 years ago it was an unbelievably unspoilt (but near derelict and deserted) village in the most beautiful and fertile valley, the coastline equally unspoilt and full of rocky coves, ideal for snorkling or shrimping. 35 years later the village is thriving, full of families who have been there for generations and in the nick of time realised its uniqueness, returned and restored their houses. The village and valley are now integrated in a Natural Park and hopefully safe for ever from the horrors of southern Spain.

What makes this house unique

La Vall is the real Spain, we are the only foreigners in the village, and there are very few indeed in Port de la Selva, 2 kms away. The only changes to the whole area in the last 40 years have been positive - excellent food shops now and seriously good restaurants all around. Music has become a big feature too in the summer and there are lots of local festivals - an international one with world standard opera at Peralada, a Schubertiade in Vilabertran, concerts in the Monastery of San Pedro de Roda which overlooks our village - and is now floodlit at night, much to our delight. In the spring and early summer the wild flowers and birds seem better than ever and walking in our valley is paradise. Above all, we think of our house as our home, and over 40 years it has always welcomed us.

Guestbook comments from the owner

'We had a marvellous time. The first few moments were amazing as we kept discovering all those rooms and of course the dining hall was the piece de resistance' Virginia.

'We had a wonderful holiday, the house is so lovely, so comfortable, gorgeous and ancient and yet all mod cons. The children loved all the snorkelling and we even walked up to the monastery! It was great having all the information you gave us so that we could plan each day' Mary

'We had the most wonderful stay in your house. We thought we had died and gone to heavan! I don't think I have ever slept in such a beautiful room with such a view. Not to mention the bird song' Cullen family.

Various pebbly coves with good snorkelling and rock pool fishing, 15 mins walk, 5 mins drive. Sandy beach at Port de la Selva, many other sandy beaches along coast in both directions. Wind surfing and sailing lessons + hire of boats in Port de la Selva. Also scuba diving.

Travel:

Airports: 1 hour from Girona (Gerona) and Perpignan, 2 from Barcelona and Montpellier, 2 1/2 from Carcassonne. 12 hours from Calais on the motorway but not during high season Saturdays which is why we have Sunday as changeover day.

Car essential. Hire available at all airports and Figueras. Car train to Narbonne in summer.

Distances:

Cadaques - the St Tropez of Spain and Port Lligat Dali's house, now open to public, half an hour. Also Peralada, medieval town with world famous summer music and opera festival in the castle grounds and lots of antique shops. Monasterio de San Pere de Rodes only 50 minute walk from house and thought to be best example of early Romanesque architecture in Europe. Greek and Roman remains at Ampurias behind mile long sandy beach 1 hour. Besalu (medieval town and bridge), and Gerona, 1 hour.

Further Details:

Banks, supermarkets, local shops, doctors, clinics all available in Port de la Selva and Llansa. Wonderful walking and sightseeing all around. Besalu - medieval town with Roman bridge (great restaurant in west abutment) 50 minutes away. Fabulous bird watching and botany.

Description of sleeping capacity: Sleeps 10 (5 Bedrooms) Notes on bedrooms: Two en-suite bedrooms, king size beds, up own staircases, one with access through main terrace plus own private terrace, one with wood burning stove. Two twin bedrooms sharing bathroom with wc + separate wc, bunk room with cot, all on middle floor.

Entertainment:

Books ...

Games ...

Toys ...

Outside:

Balcony ...

Boat ...

Terrace ...

Golf ...

Kayak / Canoe ...

Garden ...

Barbecue ...

Tennis ...

Water Sports Gear ...

Suitability:

wheelchair inaccessible

Attractions:

bay

churches

library

marina

naturist beach

playground

recreation centre

reefs

restaurants

ruins

Leisure Activities:

bird watching

eco tourism

gambling casinos

scenic drives

sight seeing

walking

Local Services & Businesses:

ATM/bank

groceries

laundrette - serviced

medical services

Sports & Adventure Activities:

cycling

fishing

golf

hiking

jet skiing

paragliding

sailing

diving

snorkelling

bay fishing

surfing

swimming

tennis

water skiing

Notes:

This is a much loved family home, not just a rental property, where up to 4 generations have spent more than 40 summers together, updating it year by year. The village is truly Catalan; most houses still belong to the original families and we know everyone in the village. It really is the true Spain and I think there are very few villages like it, still so untouched, surrounded by the most glorious and fertile mountain scenery and yet only a mile from the sea.

(10 traveller reviews)

We loved it again

We have recently returned from Casa de la Fuente, our second visit. Our first was 15 years ago with family and this time we went as a couple. It could not have been better. The garden is a wonderful place to sit and relax and there are many walks around the village if you wish to exert yourself. The local restaurant was open during our stay and, having eaten there a couple of times, would thoroughly recommend the food and hospitality there. We spent an entire week relaxing and doing nothing apart from going to El Port de la Selva for essentials - a very unusual holiday for us - and it was wonderful to take that time out. The garden is amazing - it seems so much larger than it is as the owners would appear to have spent time and love creating it. The house suits us to a T. This is an old house with nooks and crannies, which makes it our ideal holiday home. We did not eat in the dining room downstairs but it is a wonderful space to use to cook - spacious, cool, authentic Spain. We ate outside under the wisteria as the weather gave us this option. The village is isolated and a car is essential, but it is close to El Port de la Selva with supermarkets, restaurants and beach. The train service is excellent to Figueres, Girona and Barcelona and to France, from Llanca. All in all, we could not have asked for anything more and are trying to work out when we are able to return next year.

I loved this eclectic old house in a wonderful small town.

Sue was a wonderful and organized host, the house was great for the group of 8 that I traveled with. The beaches nearby where wonderful and being able to zip up the hill to a cooler location with a beautiful shaded garden was much appreciated. I would return in a heart beat.

Review Submitted: 13-Jul-2017

Date of Stay: July 2017

Source: HomeAway

Owner's Response: Dear Kerry,
Thank you so very much for giving us such a lovely and prompt revue. It just feels so good when people really seem to understand why we love it so much - and why we have spent every summer there for, I think, 43 years. I do hope you will come again - we always give 'returners' a 10% discount, though I don't know how Owners Direct deal with that! All the very best, Sue

Wonderful, quirky, different!

We stayed at Casa de la Fuente between 12th and 26th June 2016. The house is lovely with plenty of room for 10 people (although 2 will have to be in bunks).

You have three choices of where to eat - the roof terrace with its barbecue, the patio under the wisteria or the kitchen/living room with its amazing vaulted ceiling and beautiful wooden table. Inside the house is full of interesting things, pictures, light fittings and furniture. Who would expect iron scorpions? Everyone's favourite was the owl that regarded the kitchen in astonished indignation.

There is a pretty garden which is full of birdsong.

The more energetic amongst us made several walks to the monastery and the beach.

We made some trips to Figueres and Girona; we snorkeled and saw an octopus and a cuttlefish.

Crumbling Ceilings & musty Smells!

Please be aware that if you rent this house you may like us be concerned about your health when you leave. In the main kitchen/dining room the old plaster dust and segments of old plaster are falling down on to the work surfaces where food preparation takes place. The kettle and toaster were covered with the dust. The house contains a lot of old, wood wormed furniture and some dining chairs have only three good legs, the room also has a musty smell with dirty/greasy cushions and soft furnishings. When I raised this with the owner her reply was…….

(The dust coming down from the ceiling is simply the age old plaster which does I am afraid come down from time to time. I am afraid it is just one of the facts one has to accept in a 300 year old house).

Think twice before you book!!!

Review Submitted: 21-Nov-2014

Date of Stay: November 2014

Source: Owners Direct, from HomeAway

Owner's Response: Firstly, of course we are very sad that Patsy and her husband didn't enjoy themselves at our house. We have been letting it now for 39 years, everyone seems to love it, and our huge, vaulted kitchen/dining room is usually the highlight of all the many enthusiastic comments we have received. As far as we know, no-one has ever become ill there, certainly none of our own family or guests.
I had explained to Patsy that it is an old house which we don't normally let in November, and I should have also told her that there is a problem with dust occasionally dropping from the ceiling. The only permanent solution to this is to spray it with a particularly dangerous chemical and our family jointly decided against this for health reasons. On the question of a musty smell, this would have been the bunches of helichrysum stoechas hanging from the ceiling - a local custom to keep out flies. (If you visit Salvador Dali's house in nearby Port Lligat you will find the same flowers everywhere - and the same faintly musty smell.)
We always leave the kitchen well stocked with logs for the wood burning stove which quickly banishes any residual dampness if the house has been empty for some weeks. The furniture in the kitchen is all Catalan antiques and anything with any sign of woodworm was treated when we bought the house and we inspect in annually - it is not live.
I also reiterated to Patsy in every email I sent her that she should get in touch with me on my mobile or landline immediately if she had any concerns whatsoever once they had arrived. It is such a pity she didn't do this, or get in touch with Elo, our agent who lives in the village. She would most certainly have immediately washed any cushion covers, etc. and is there, specifically on hand to sort out any problems that might arise.

Absolutely the best!

I am writing to let you know that we stayed in your villa in spring of 2006 with our family. We were thrilled by it's charm, location, ambience... Your home has become the benchmark by which we measure all others. Truly, a hard act to follow!

Fantastic time at La Vall

Ourselves, family & friends (8 adults & two small children) all went to the wonderful La Vall holiday home "retreat" near Port de la Selva in Spain for our Christmas, New Year and special birthday celebration holidays & had a fantastic time.

When we arrived we found everything to be super spotless & tidy, and enjoyed our navigation through the house to discover all the fabulous rooms, facilities and numerous closets. (joining instructions and directions had been exactly as you'd want them to be; accurate, informative, clear & honest)

After the usual back & forth’s about who’d occupy which of the bedrooms and why, - we each unpacked before gathering in the generously spacious dining area, confirming unanimously with each other that we’d found what we’d hoped for; a very well appointed, spaciously eccentric, homely, peaceful relaxation opportunity environment, with superb sunshine views, numerous vantage points & the most fantastic wood burning stove.

We gathered some very special memories at La Vall, that’ll stay with us forever and must also pay special thanks to our extremely attentive owner and her local help; Elo who responded both cheerfully & expediently when we needed help & advice on a couple of what to do’s.

Honestly, it was fabulous, from start to finish & we’d go back in a heart beat !

Additional pricing information

Changeover Day:
Changeovers on Sundays but sometimes flexible. Please do not arrive before 5pm (we leave you emergency rations of bread, eggs, butter, milk and 2 bottles of local champagne), and please leave by 10am.

Notes on prices:
Prices are for the property per week in euros or the sterling equivalent at the time of paying deposit or balance.